Rail sleeper

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a rail sleeper and to a rail fastening assembly including the sleeper. The rail sleeper has a rail seat and a seating formation for a resilient rail clip adjacent the rail seat. The seating formation preferably has a flat downwardly directed seating surface. The whole of the seating formation is disposed alongside the rail seat. The assembly includes a resilient rail clip having a pair of limbs, namely an upper limb which is longer than the other or lower limb. The clip is bodily movable between a clamping position and an unclamped position. In the clamping position the lower limb engages the seating formation and the upper limb bears downwardly on the foot flange of a rail on the rail seat. In the unclamped position the upper limb is free of the foot flange.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,894,687 Jacobson 1 1 July 15, 1975 RAIL SLEEPER 3.724.754 4/1973 Molyneux et al. 238/349 [76] Inventor: Gerald Jacobson, Johannesburg.

South Af i Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch [22] Flled; 157 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Karl W. Flocks [21} Appl. No.: 443,123

Related U.S. Application Data ABSTRACT Division Of Ser, March I971 The invention relates to a rail sleeper and to a rail fastening assembly including the sleeper. The rail sleeper has a rail seat and a seating formation for a resilient 238/351; 8/354; 8/377 rail clip adjacent the rail seat. The seating formation [5 l] Int. Cl .1 preferably has a flat downwardly directed seating guy. Field Search 33/351. 35 face. The whole of the seating formation is disposed v 377 alongside the rail seat. The assembly includes a resilient rail clip having a pair of limbs, namely an upper References Cited limb which is longer than the other or lower limb. The UNlTED STATES PATENTS clip is bodily movable between a clamping position 1.926.088 9/1933 Furies et a]. 238/304 and unclamped P the clamping Position 1.979.329 11/1934 Keurvorst 233/304 the lower limb engages the Seating formation and the 1.979.825 11/1934 Dalton 238/351 upp r lim a s n ardly n the foot flange f a 2.064.664 12/1936 Keen 238/304 rail on the rail seat. In the unclamped position the 2.954.169 9/1960 Rigby.... upper limb is free of the foot flange. 3.216.665 ll/l965 Skcrry 238/349 3.515.347 6/1970 Waters et al 238/349 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 26Z I8 26-22 1411/ 22-3 22-: m 27 /4-4 m 27, 22-1 22-: u 22 10-41 m 2224 4 261 51/ $165 glb'b TVIJ/ RAIL SLEEPER This is a division of application Ser. No. 343,153, filed Mar. 20, 1973.

This invention relates to a rail sleeper. It also relates to a rail fastening assembly including the sleeper.

According to one aspect of the invention a rail sleeper has at least one rail seat and at least one flat downwardly directed seating surface associated with each seat for the lower limb of a resilient rail clip, the whole seating surface being disposed alongside the rail seat.

The sleeper may include an anchor member alongside each rail seat, each seating surface being provided by a socket in one of the anchor members, the socket extending along the length of the sleeper and having its mouth directed away from the associated rail seat. Each anchor member may have an anchor portion in the interior of the sleeper and a shoulder portion projecting upwardly from the sleeper. Each socket may be rectangular in transverse cross section, the seating surface sloping upwardly towards the rail seat. Each socket may be raised above the upper surface of the sleeper and may be in the form of a passage which is open at either end. The sleeper may have a pair of rail seats spaced from each other along the length of the sleeper, and a pair of seating surfaces associated with each rail seat, on either side thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention a rail fastening assembly comprises:

a rail sleeper having at least one rail seat and at least one seating formation associated with each rail seat for the lower limb of a resilient rail clip, the whole of the seating formation being disposed alongside its rail seat;

at least one resilient rail clip having a lower limb engageable with the seating formation and an upper limb which is longer than the lower limb and which is adapted to bear downwardly on the foot flange of a rail on the associated rail seat, the clip being bodily movable between an unclamped position in which the upper limb is free of the foot flange of the rail and a clamping position in which it bears downwardly on said foot flange.

The rail sleeper may be as hereinbefore described, the flat downwardly directed seating surface being provided by the seating formation. The assembly may include clip locating means adapted to force the upper and lower limbs apart during movement of the clip between its unclamped and clamping positions. The clip locating means may be provided by a vertically disposed projection extending laterally relative to the sleeper, and engageable with one of the limbs of the clip. The projection may project upwardly, at least part of the projection being provided by a ramp on the upper surface of the sleeper which slopes upwardly towards the rail seat, the ramp being engageable with the upper limb of the clip. The assembly may include a gauge adjusting plate for each clip insertable between the upper limb of each clip and the foot flange of the associated rail. the plate having an upwardly directed recess for the end of said limb, defined by an inwardly directed shoulder which forms at least part of the projection. Each clip may be of flattened substantially rectangular transverse cross-section the clip having a substantially straight lower limb and an upper limb divided into two substantially straight portions disposed at an angle to each other, one portion extending away from the lower limb and the other portion extending from the end of the one portion and towards the free end of the lower limb. The assembly may include an insulating pad for insertion between the upper surface of the foot flange of each rail and the upper limb of each clip, and a rail seating pad of insulating material for each rail seat.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of a rail fastening assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a part sectional end elevation of the assembly of FIG. 1, taken along line l1ll in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an elevation of the pedestal of the rail fastening assembly of FIG. 1 taken in the direction of line Ill-Ill in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the pedestal of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a partial view, similar to that of FIG. 2, of another rail fastening assembly in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 6 shows a partial sectional side elevation of part of a sleeper in accordance with the invention, corresponding to HO. 2.

ln H08. 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates generally a rail fastening assembly in accordance with the invention. The assembly includes a concrete rail sleeper 12 provided with a pair of anchor members in the form of pedestals 14, 16. The pedestals respectively have anchor portions in the form of shanks 14.1, 16.1 embedded in the interior of sleeper 12, and project above an upper surface 12.1 on the sleeper. The pedestals 14, 16 are respectively provided with oppositely outwardly directed sockets 14.2, 16.2. The portion 12.11 of the surface 12.1 which is located between the pedestals 14, 16 forms a rail seat on the sleeper 12 for the foot flange 18.1 of a rail 18 and the mouths of the sockets are directed away from the scat 12.11. The whole of each socket 14.2, 16.2 of the pedestals 14, 16 is located alongside the seat 12.11.

The pedestals 14, 16 respectively have shoulder portions 14.4, 16.4, which project upwardly from the sleeper. The shoulders in turn have opposed inwardly facing locating surfaces 14.41, 16.41 defining the outer limits of the rail seat 12.11 for the foot flange 18.1. The flange 18.1 seats on its seat via a seating pad 20 ofinsulating material, for example rubber.

The shoulders 14.4 and 16.4 of the pedestals 14, 16 are integral with the shanks 14.1, 16.1 Gauge adjusting plates 22 are shown inserted between the rail foot flange 18.1 and the locating surfaces 14.41, 16.41 of the pedestals. The plates 22 bear on the flange 18.1 of the rail via rail insulating pads 24. The pads 24 are formed from an insulating material and are, for example, glass fibre reinforced synthetic resin mouldings. Resilient rail clips 26 of flattened substantially rectangular cross-section are provided to locate the rail 18 in position on its seat. The clip 26 for the pedestal 16 is shown in its clamped position, and the clip for the pedestal 14 is shown withdrawn from the socket 14.2. Each clip 26 has a lower limb 26.1 receivable within its socket 14.2, 16.2. The sockets 14.2, 16.2 have upper surfaces 14.21, 16.2] which slope upwardly away from the inlet openings or mouths 14.23, 16.23 to the sockets and towards the seat 12.11. These sockets 14.2 16.2 are rectangular in transverse cross section are open at either end. They act as seating formations for the lower limbs 26.] of the rail clips 26 and their upper surfaces 14.21, 16.21 form downwardly directed flat seating surfaces for said lower limbs. The lower limbs 26.1 of the clips 26 are substantially straight, the slope of the surfaces 14.21, 16.21 acting to locate the clips 26 in position.

The clips 26 each have an upper limb 26.2 which is longer than the lower limb 26.1. Each limb 26.2 has two substantially straight portions 26.21, 26.22 disposed at an angle to each other. The portion 26.21 extends upwardly away from the limb 26.1, where it joins said limb, the portion 26.22 in turn extending from the opposite end of the portion 26.21 and towards the free end 26.11 of the lower limb 26.1.

Clip locating means for each clip 26 is provided in the form of an upwardly projecting laterally extending projection, generally designated 27, engageable with the free end 26.3 of the upper limb 26.2 of the associated clip 26. The projections 27 are made up in part by ramps 14.5, 16.5 sloping upwardly from flat upper surfaces 14.6, 16.6 on the shoulder portions 14.4, 16.4 and inwardly towards the rail seat 12.11. The projections 27 are further made up by inwardly directed shoulders 22.] on the plates 22. Each shoulder 22.1, together with an outwardly directed shoulder 22.2 spaced inwardly on the plate 22 towards the rail 18, serves to define an upwardly directed recess 23.3 for receiving the free end 26.3 of the upper limb 26.2 of the associated clip 26. The recess 22.3 extends as a groove parallel to the rail 18.

In FIG. 3 and 4, a pedestal is generally designated 14. Unless otherwise specified, like reference numerals refer to like parts. The pedestals have outwardly extending lugs 14.7 (shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4) embedded in the rail sleeper, for locating the pedestals against rotational movement about their shanks 14.1, 16.1.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 28 generally designates a further rail fastening assembly in accordance with the invention. Unless otherwise specified, like reference numerals refer to like parts. The clip 26 is shown in its clamping positionyno insulation pad is shown; and the socket 14.2 is shown closed at its end opposite its mouth. The pedestal 14 has its shoulder portion 14.4 located in a recess 12.2 in the upper surface 12.1 of the sleeper 12, and the socket 14.2 is not raised above the a surface 12.1.

1n P16. 6 reference numeral 30 generally designates part of a steel sleeper in accordance with the invention. The sleeper is hollow and has an upper wall 32. The upper wall 32 has a rectangular opening 32.1, in which is shown an anchor member 34. The anchor member has a shoulder portion 34.1 above the upper surface 32.2 of the wall 32 adjacent a rail seat 32.21; a shank 34.2 passing downwardly through the opening 32.1; and an anchor portion 34.3 located in the interior of the sleeper. The shoulder portion 34.1 is similar to the shoulder portions 14.4, 16.4 of the anchor members 14,16 of FIG. 1. The shank 34.2 is recessed inwardly relative to the shoulder portion 34.1 as at 34.21 on its side facing inwardly towards the rail seat 32.21 on the upper surface 32.2 of the sleeper; and is likewise recessed inwardly relative to the shoulder portion 34.1 as at 34.22 on its opposite side. The anchor portion 34.3 registers in plan view, with the shoulder portion 34.] except at its edge 34.31 adjacent the seat 32.21, where it projects inwardly under the seat. The recessed shank 34.2 at 34.21, 34.22 permits the anchor member 34 to be inserted downwardly, from above the sleeper, into the opening 32.1. When the anchor member 34 is in position it is located by a rail flange on the seat 32.21, or by a gauge plate (both not shown) so that the edge of the opening 32.1 is received in the recess at 34.22. When the anchor member 34 is subjected to an upward pull its edges 34.31, 34.33 bear upwardly against the underside 32.3 of the wall 32, as at 36. As with the shoulder portions 14.4, 16.4 of FIG. 1, the shoulder portion 34.1 has a socket 34.4; seating surface 34.41; ramp 34.5; locating surface 34.6; and a flat upper surface 34.7. The socket is above the wall 32 and is open at either end to form a passage.

Conveniently, each sleeper as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, will have a pair of spaced rail seats, each rail seat being provided with a pair of anchor members.

Use of the invention will now be described, with particular reference to FIG. 1, but it will be understood that the use will be similar for the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6. The clips 26 are bodily movable between a clamping position, as shown for the pedestal 14. In the clamping position the free end 26.3 of the upper limb 26.2 of each clip bears down via the gauge plate 22 and insulating pad 24 on the foot flange 18.] of the rail, and in the unclamped position it is free of the gauge plate. When the clips 26 move between said positions the projections 27 serve to force the limbs 26.1, 26.2 apart, and the projections 27 with the recesses 22.3 serve to locate the clips 26 in their clamped positions to guard against accidental withdrawal.

1 claim:

1. A rail sleeper which is in the form of a concrete moulding and which includes at least one rail seat, and an anchor member alongside each rail seat, each anchor member forming part of the sleeper and providing on the sleeper a flat downwardly directed seating surface associated with the seat for the lower limb of a resilient rail clip, the whole seating surface being disposed alongside the rail seat and being defined by a socket in the anchor member, the socket extending lengthwise along the sleeper and having a mouth directed away from the associated rail seat, the anchor member having an anchor portion embedded in the interior of the sleeper and a shoulder portion projecting upwardly from the sleeper, the shoulder portion presenting, elevated relative to the seating surface, an upwardly facing ramp which slopes, in a direction lengthwise along the sleeper, upwardly towards the rail seat, the sleeper being adapted for use with a resilient rail clip having a lower limb which bears upwardly against the seating surface and an upper limb which bears downwardly on the foot flange of a rail on the rail seat, to clamp the rail to the sleeper, the ramp and seating surface being adapted to force the limbs of the rail clip apart during insertion of the clip into its operative posi-. tion.

2. A sleeper as claimed in claim 1, in which each socket is rectangular in transverse cross section, and in which each seating surface slopes upwardly towards the rail seat.

3. A sleeper as claimed in claim 1, in which each socket is raised above the upper surface of the sleeper and is in the form of a passage which is open at either end. 

1. A rail sleeper which is in the form of a concrete moulding and which includes at least one rail seat, and an anchor member alongside each rail seat, each anchor member forming part of the sleeper and providing on the sleeper a flat downwardly directed seating surface associated with the seat for the lower limb of a resilient rail clip, the whole seating surface being disposed alongside the rail seat and being defined by a socket in the anchor member, the socket extending lengthwise along the sleeper and having a mouth directed away from the associated rail seat, the anchor member having an anchor portion embedded in the interior of the sleeper and a shoulder portion projecting upwardly from the sleeper, the shoulder portion presenting, elevated relative to the seating surface, an upwardly facing ramp which slopes, in a direction lengthwise along the sleeper, upwardly towards the rail seat, the sleeper being adapted for use with a resilient rail clip having a lower limb which bears upwardly against the seating surface and an upper limb which bears downwardly on the foot flange of a rail on the rail seat, to clamp the rail to the sleeper, the ramp and seating surface being adapted to force the limbs of the rail clip apart during insertion of the clip into its operative position.
 2. A sleeper as claimed in claim 1, in which each socket is rectangular in transverse cross section, and in which each seating surface slopes upwardly towards the rail seat.
 3. A sleeper as claimed in claim 1, in which each socket is raised above the upper surface of the sleeper and is in the form of a passage which is open at either end. 